Hi Pauline,

Probably not this forum anymore, when we first came across it there were some odd posts, but I have seen some very good advice here and that is why I am still posting.

As mentioned in another post here, some ICB council members don't see the point, but I do, and I think there are some very positive posts on here, and therefore very good reasons to be a part of it.

For any non ICB members you can read the latest newsletter here: http://www.bookkeepers.org.uk/News/1100

Hi James,

There still are some odd posts on here...lol The majority of advice on here is superb and as Attila said people will always point others to reliable sources and not to rely solely on advice here.

This forum is excellent for those of us who can't get to networking events or meet other members face to face and it feels like a proper community

Just as a matter of interest, are the ICB planning any events in the Chelmsford area at all?

Pauline

Lol.....always good to have an OPINION Sue 

Stardoe wrote:

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Just as a matter of interest, are the ICB planning any events in the Chelmsford area at all?

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Hi Pauline,

Not one planned as yet, the last one was in May, did you make that one?

If you are interested in helping organise one just email the ICB and we can put you in touch with your local Regional Chairperson. Otherwise I would have thought there would be one before the end of the year.

 

Hi Kris,

I think you miss the point as he goes on to say:
 "I am pleased to say that being the head of a truly amazing group of bookkeepers spread across more than ninety countries does in fact make me very happy."

However, the number of silly complaints the ICB receives is increasing. It's not just the ICB, a meeting at ACCA with the other professional bodies shows that the others are also having the same problem.

Like being taken to court because someone who failed an exam believes that if they go away and study, they should be given the qualification without the need to retake the examination.

James,

The point is that any public facing business takes their share of stupid calls. I have a friend who writes software for government agencies, he received a call yesterday from an unhappy user, it seems they wanted to delay an appointment for 12 months but the software kept saying 52 weeks.

I get Garry's point, it honestly wasn't wasted on me, but I also notice that the majority of his column is someone did something silly and I'm going to publicly ridicule them. I don't think it's hugely professional, what do others think?

We all have silly clients, would you slag them on a newsletter that you send to them amongst others?

However, I think the overall point is not to ridicule anyone, but trying to be constructive by presenting important information in a relaxed and discursive way.

We really do get a warm response to these rants with Garry, but you are right in identifying it as such.

-- Edited by ICBUK on Thursday 14th of October 2010 03:48:55 PM

Ooh, I did get a mention didn't I   Does that make me famous? (or infamous)? 

I think the idea of a "rant with Garry" is a good idea. I always try and be very professional, but even us bookkeepers have to let our hair down sometimes!  Bookkeeping, by its very nature is a serious business, but also because we mostly deal with sole traders, partners and small Limited companies, we are sometimes almost treated as confidantes and friends. I have one client who almost treats me as part of the family! 

I used to think that I had the wrong sort of personality to be a bookkeeper as I am not a very serious person and have a weird sense of humour (think Lee Evans, and that's me).  But I think that a sense of humour is a must these days (as long as it doesn't get in the way of the truly serious stuff).

With regard to the person who thought he shouldn't have to re-sit the exam, I think younger people these days don't know they are born!  (Not saying that person was young, but probably younger than me!).  Exams seem a lot easier these days.  At least in the ICB exams you get the P&L and BS set out for you and don't have to remember the layouts.  In my day we would have had to lay it all out from scratch as well as get all the figures right.

Oh dear "in my day"...I sound like a right old codger...lol

Pauline

I am not in any way sticking up for the person that went to the exam, but I am in a similar position myself.

I am nearly 50, busy at the moment, took my 1st bookkeeping exam back in 1978, my last manual exam apart from icb level 1, was in 1993, early 2000's re sat these exams for computerised, re sat them again for ICB membership, now being told I have to take another exam before September 2011 and for this exam I will need photo id.

Not only do I have to pay for the exam, loosing the time for chargeable work, I also have to either update my passport not that I have or will be going anywhere abroad, or go from paper driving licence to photo again at a cost to me.

I will not be able to leave the exam room, I will be using a calculator that I am not familiar with, I always take my own when I go to clients, I also have in my bag, a mouse etc that I am familiar with.

I will say in my defence that I am 100% behind CPD and would always attend these. I hate exams at the best of times, but could we not have part of the day for CPD having some form of test rather than all the extra exams?